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The First Grader [DVD]

Naomie Harris , Tony Kgoroge , Justin Chadwick    Suitable for 12 years and over   DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Actors: Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Sam Feuer
  • Directors: Justin Chadwick
  • Format: PAL
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: SODA
  • DVD Release Date: 17 Oct 2011
  • Run Time: 103 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00505QAY0
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 25,155 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

Directed by Justin Chadwick (THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL) and written by Emmy winner Ann Peacock (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA), THE FIRST GRADER is the triumphant true story of one man’s battle to overcome his past in order to be educated.

When the Kenyan government promises free education for all, 84 year-old Maruge (Oliver Litondo in his debut role) makes his way to a remote primary school in the Kenyan bush to get himself the education he has always been denied.  A former Mau Mau warrior, fifty years earlier he fought for the liberation of his country and now he must fight for his right to learn to read and write in a class of six-year-olds.  Moved by his passionate plea, head teacher Jane (Naomie Harris, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don’t want to waste a precious school place on an old man.

Full of humour and vitality, THE FIRST GRADER uncovers the shocking untold history of British colonial rule in Kenya and tells the remarkable, inspirational story of one man's determination to learn in the face of adversity.

Extras:
Making The First Grader, incl interviews with Naomie Harris
What Happened Next: Maruge's journey to the UN with ActionAid

Subtitle information:
Original language: English
Subtitles for the hard of hearing: None
Subtitles: None

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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Cat Sat on the Mau-Mau 21 Jun 2011
Format:DVD
Insofar as it plumps for a "heart-warming and inspiring" general vibe (and it does: it's even in the production notes), Justin Chadwick's new film The First Grader certainly gives itself a fighting chance. Well, how many cockle-warming boxes can you check: illiterate octogenarian; overflowing rural Kenyan primary school; the massive, rolling expanses of the Kenyan bush; the accompaniment of African music and a dazzling, wholesome heroine to beam at the screen whenever things start to lag a bit.

Chadwick makes the most of these facilities, available to him in abundance, and why not: there are several scenes where unbearably cute little children buzz happily around the sombre silhouette of a elderly figure, and it is impossible not to be gladdened, whatever the context. Kimani Maruge, the titular first grader, even wears a child's school uniform - including shorts and socks - and gamely wrestles with cat, sat and mat by day and in the night retreats to a darkened shed, and stares into the distant darkness with ancient, sad eyes.

Before long we are let into the secret of those sad eyes.

As of course it must be, while based on a true story this account is heavily fictionalised: only that nod to verisimilitude gave any licence to make a film which would otherwise be too cheesy to survive the pitch. No doubt in a number of ways the real story would have made for inconvenient narrative: I doubt, for example, Maruge actually marched into the Kenyan education minister's office and ripped his shirt off.

While Chadwick is never ambitious with his film - he knows what his assets are, flaunts them, and doesn't try any funny stuff - he is nonetheless challengingly political. In its back-story First Grader is by no means saccharine: Maruge was a Mau Mau resistance fighter in the fifties, was imprisoned for the best part of a decade and, as the screenplay unfolds, we find out it is this history which compels him to seek his education. The film repeatedly flashes back to the resistance, and the flashes don't compromise. There's some pretty brutal viewing in there. Now, all Maruge has is a letter. And he can't read it. Hence the story.

The Mau Mau's plight at the hands of the British colonials is at the top of the news agenda at the moment, so Justin Chadwick couldn't have timed it better in terms of profile; on the other hand I suspect he may have romanticised the struggle somewhat (the Mau Mau are portrayed more or less as hapless victims; the British as torturing fascists), and this may lead to some charges of revisionism that he might otherwise have avoided had his story not had the same currency.

There are a couple of missteps: in an attempt to force the narrative, the screenplay calls for some anonymous antagonism (crank calls and threats of various sorts) which don't appear plausible since all that is going on is an old fellow showing up at a rural primary school for some reading lessons. Some of the parents at the school display a positively North London sensibility when it comes to their furthering their children's education at all costs: this didn't really ring true either (simply put, no peasant farmer could be quite that neurotic) yet this antagonism is allowed to build seemingly to boiling point, at which point it just dies off without resolution.

This review couldn't pass without mention of Naomie Harris, who is simply radiant whenever on the screen, and completely occupied the character of the principled teacher who takes Maruge in regardless of the firestorm it improbably provokes. Harris could have been reading the back of a cereal packet and I'd enjoy it: it's hard not to like a film when there is such a natural sparkling beauty in it. Expect to see more of this young lady in the next few years.

The First Grader sets itself an unambitious target and, with such prime quality raw material, gets home easily. Those of a delicate sensibility go in forewarned, though; some of the scenes from the Mau Mau uprising are more disturbing than you commonly see in a "heart warming and inspiring film"

Olly Buxton
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly Overcooked, but stll Edible. 25 Oct 2011
By Bob Salter TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Justin Chadwick's film is a well intentioned and honorable effort to bring the story of Kenyan villager Kimani Maruge to the big screen. Maruge made international news in 2003 when at the age of 84 he made the Guinness book of records for becoming the oldest person ever to enrol in an infants school. He had taken his governments slogan of 'education for all' quite literally. It is certainly an uplifting 'the pen is mightier than the sword' true story, and highlights how important education is to many third world countries where young students happily walk many miles to attend school each day. Maruge gained such status that he even visited the United Nations, and you can see the man himself in a very short film in the special features. He died in 2009 aged 89 years. His indomitable spirit and determination to seek fairness is at the heart of the film.

The film is anchored by two very fine performances from the lead players. English actress Naomie Harris deservedly had glowing praise from critics for her performance. Her accent passes muster and she brings the correct gravitas to her performance, but she is eclipsed by little known Kenyan born Oliver Litondo who gives an immensely powerful performance in the lead role. Without his performance the film would have no cement to hold the whole structure together, which creaks a little as it is. Litondo brings a humility to the role that Maruge himself would surely have approved of. What he might not have approved of is the films moments of implausible Hollywood style melodrama. The films closing scenes show this at its worst! Whilst the classroom scenes are a delight, the flashbacks to Maruge's Mau Mau past are a bit overcooked. Perhaps a more subdued approach to past colonial wrongs would have served better, and had more dramatic impact. Overlooking this it is not a bad film. It takes a while to get going but tells a worthy story, which is well filmed and well acted. Worth a watch.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I just this film on the 29th October 2010 at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.

I think this is the first time that I can say that a film has had a profound affect upon me. It's a fantastic story, and what makes it all the more amazing, as confirmed by Justin Chadwick at the festival, everything you see in the film is true and actually happened.

I am not ashamed to admit that I was moved to tears, and these were not tears of joy. Emotionally, this is a heavyweight amongst films.

The film also left me not being very proud to be British. It covers, in flash back, a part of our history that I am sure most of my fellow countrymen would wish had never happened.

I would strongly recommend that every Britain and every Kenyan watches this film. It will move them all to tears, and teach us all lessons we should not forget for the future.

If you do go to watch it, take plenty of handkerchiefs. You'll need them!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars First Rate Story.
I bought this DVD after watching the film on TV. I have really enjoyed watching it and when I have time, I shall watch it again. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Derek
5.0 out of 5 stars Great film
Brilliant film, well made and depicted a good resemblance of a story like this. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it.
Published 1 month ago by Martin Melesi
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully filmed and it grabs you from the start
Disturbing and upsetting in parts but a beautifully told real-life story with a lovely ending. I saw it at the cinema and loved it and have also shown in to some of my students -... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Stevenson
5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary man
I just love films about extraordinary people - it is so inspiring to watch what some people can achieve. And this is such a film to love. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ingrid
5.0 out of 5 stars A 'feel-good' film of one mans struggle against his past
Excellent film. A story about one elderly man's search for education set against a background of previous conflict in Africa.An uplifting story.
Published 4 months ago by SUSAN JEAN HINE
4.0 out of 5 stars A must see film
The story line is excellent and the actors and actresses portray the story line to tee. I can't say anymore otherwise it would spoil the true life story.
Published 4 months ago by Mike Scanlan
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best films I've ever seen
From the very start this film catches your emotions. You get drawn in to the suffering this Mau-Mau veteran went through as he aided his country in the war for its independence. Read more
Published 10 months ago by T.A.R
4.0 out of 5 stars First Grader
First Grader gives an honest account of the education system in Kenya, it also gives an insight into the difficulties for the Kikuyu when they were wanting independence just around... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mary Primrose
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